Electric feeler mechanism



Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. GOWING, OF NEWTON CENTER, AND SHERYVOOD O. DODGE, F MEDFORD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO H. F. LIVERMORE 00., OF ALLSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC FEELER MECHANISM 7 Application filed December 3, 1928.

This invention relates to an electric feeler mechanism for looms and has for its object to provide an electrically operated mechanism whereby when the filling upon the bobbin in the shuttle becomes substantially exhausted that a replenishing mechanism will be operated automatically to replace the exhausted bobbin with another having a full supply of filling thereon, or, if it is so desired, a suitable mechanism may be operated to stop the loom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated device that will be free from the fire hazards usually present in devices of this character, the electric contact members being so constructed and arranged that sparks caused by the opening and closing of the electric circuit therethrough cannot be communicated to the filling upon the bobbin or to the lint that collects around the mechanism.

The invention consists in a feeler mechanism for looms as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of a feeler mechanism embodying our invention, the upper casing member of the mechanism being removed to expose that portion of the electric contact members located within the casing; portions of a lay, shuttle and bobbin also be ing shown in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the casing taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 3 represents a lay, 4 is a box plate, 5 a shuttle, 6 a bobbin and 7 the filling upon said bobbin, all of said parts being of well-known construction and portions thereof being broken away to save space in the drawings.

Extending around the body portion of the bobbin 6 and securely fastened thereto in any 45 suitable manner is a cylindrical sleeve 8 which may be constructed of any material capable of conducting electricity. The sleeve 8 constitutes an electric contact member for the bobbin 8. Extending through one side of the plate 6 is an opening 9 and located. within Serial No. 323,324.

the side of the shuttle 7 adjacent to the opening 9 of the box plate is an opening 10.

Mounted in any suitable manner upon the frame of the loom, adjacent to one end of the lay 3, is a bracket 11, on which a casing 12 for a plurality of electric contact members is mounted. The casing 12 is constructed of insulating material and embodies therein a lower member 13 and an upper member 14, both of which are identical in construction and preferably are molded in a single piece. The casing members are fastened securely together by a plurality of rivets 15 or any other suitable fastening device and the casing as a whole is fastened to the bracket 9 by bolts 151. Extending entirely through each of the casing members from end to end is a recess 16 consisting of a central chamber portion 17, bearing portions 18 and 19, and an end portion 20. A shoulder 21 is formed at the intersection of the portions 17 and 18. Another shoulder 22 is formed at the intersection of the portions 17 and 19, and a shoulder 23 is formed at the intersection of the portions 19 and 20.

Slidably mounted in each ofvthe bearing portions 18 of the recesses 16 are feeler members 24 which also constitute electric contact members. The members 24 at their outer extremities engage the filling 7 of the bobbin 6 and when-the filling is substantially exhausted from said bobbin said members contact with the sleeve 8 which encircles the bobbin. The members 24 also have enlarged portions 25 formed thereon which engage the shoulders 21 and limit the extent to which the members 2 1 may be forced outwardly from the casing 12. Projecting from the enlarged portions 25 of the members 24: are portions 26, at the extremity of which is a tungsten tip 27.

Slidably mounted in the bearing portions 19 of the casing 12 are electric contact members 28 having enlarged portions 29 formed integral therewith which are slidable within the central chamber portion 17 of the recess 16. At one end of each member 28 a head portion 30 is formed which is located within the portion 20 of the recess 16 and said head portion engages the shouldered portion 23 of the casing 12 and limits the movementof the member 28 in one direction. Projecting from the portion 29 of each member 28 is a portion 31, at the extremity of which a tungsten tip 32 is located.

A spring 33 surrounding each member 28 acts to hold the member with the head portion 30 thereof in contact with the shoulder 23. A spring 34 of less compressive strength than the spring 33 is interposed between each of the contact members 24 and 28, the opposite ends of said springs being seated upon sleeves 35 and 36 mounted upon the portions 26 and 31 of the contact members 24 and 28 respectively. The sleeves 35 and 36 are constructed of insulating material.

One of the electric contact members 28 is connected by a flexible connection 37 with a binding post 38 mounted in the casing 12,

while the other contact member 28 is connected by a flexible connecting member 39 to a binding post 40 mounted in the casing 12. A wire 41 leads from the binding post 40 to a magnetic device 42, preferably a solenoid, which is located within a casing 43 in turn supported upon the bracket 11 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. A wire 44 extends from the solenoid 42 to a transformer 45 of well-known form and a wire 46 extends from the transformer to the binding post 38.

An armature 47 is mounted to move longitudinally in the solenoid 42 and in a member 48 which is supported upon the casing 43, and said armature is actuated by the solenoid in a well-known manner. rounding the armature 47 normally acts to hold the same in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, at which time a shouldered portion 50 thereof engages a portion of the casing 43 and constitutes a stop therefor. The extremity of the armature 47 is provided with an opening to receive the end of a connecting rod 51 by means of which the armature 47 is opcratively connected to a filling replenishing controlling means, any preferred form of which may be. employed, and it is to be understood that this invention is not limited in this respect. The rod 51, furthermore, may be connected to a suitable stop mechanism wherebythe loom may be automatically stopped if it is so desired, when the filling becomes exhausted from the bobbin.

The general operation of the mechanism hereinbefore specifically described is as follows :-During alternate beat-up movements of the lay 3 the shuttle 5 with the bobbin 6 therein will be located at the end of the lay 3 as the latter reaches the limit of its beat-up stroke, and at this time the electric contact members 24 will project through the openings 9 and 10 in the box plate 4 and shuttle 5 respectively and the extremities of the electric contact members 34 will contact with the filling 7 upon the bobbin 6. lVith alternate beat-41p movements of the lay 3 the electric contact members 24 as they engage the filling A spring 49 sur-' 7 will be moved longitudinally within the casing 12 against the tension of the springs 34 until the tips 27 of said contact members engage the tips 32 of the contact members 28 and the latter will then yield longitudinally a short distance within the casing 12 against the tension of the springs 33.

As long as there is filling material upon the bobbin 6 this material will prevent the electric contact members 24 from contacting with the sleeve 8 upon the bobbin, but as soon as the filling 7 is substantially exhausted from the bobbin both of the contact members 24 will engage the sleeve 8 simultaneously, and when the tips 27 and 32 again contact, an electric circuit will be completed through all of the contact members, which will result in the solenoid 42 being energized, thereby causing a longitudinal movement of the armature 47 and connecting rod 51, which movement will cause the bobbin replenishing mechanism to function in a well-known manner when the shuttle reaches the opposite end of the lay, with the result that a new bobbin is supplied to the shuttle before the running weft is entirely exhausted from the old bobbin.

If the rod 51 is connected to a stop mechanism, the loom will be automatically stopped when the filling becomes exhausted.

It will be particularly noted that when the electric contact members 24 contact with the sleeve 8 that the electric circuit between the members 24 and 28 is open and no spark can be generated by the engagement of the members 24 with the sleeve 8 and if a spark is subsequently created by the contact of the tips 27 and 32 no damage can be caused for the reason that the tips are located within the interior of the casing 12. In like manner when the electric circuit is broken between the contact members 24 and 28 the circuit is first broken upon the interior of the casing 12, so that when the sleeve 8 is finally disengaged from the tips of the contact members 24 the electric circuit having previously been broken, no spark can be generated between the tips of the members 24 and the sleeve. It is evident that both of the electric contact members 24 must be in contact with the sleeve 8 simultaneously before the solenoid 42 can be actuated to operate the bobbin replenishing mechanism.

While it is customary to construct the body portion of the bobbin entirely of wood, it is nevertheless evident that said body portion may be constructed in its entirety of metal, if it is so desired, in which event a separate metallic electric contact member on the bobbin would be unnecessary and it is to be understood that such construction would be within the scope of this invention.

\Ve claim:

1. A feeler mechanism for looms having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a

bobbin for said shuttle and embodying therein a conducting member for electricity, a casing, a plurality of electric contact members yieldingly mounted within said casing and insulated therefrom and adapted to contact with the filling upon the bobbin during the beat-up movement of the lay and also with the conducting member upon the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, said contact members each being constructed in two parts separable within the casing to open and close an electric circuit therethrough, and a magnetic device in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

2. A feeler mechanism for looms having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a bobbin for said shuttle and embodying therein a conducting member for electricity, a casing of insulating material, a plurality of electric contact members mounted within said casing and ada ted to contact with the filling upon the bobbin during the beat-up movement of the lay and also with the conducting member upon the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, said contact members each being constructed in two parts separable within the casing to open and close an electric circuit therethrough springs normally holding the parts of each contact member spaced apart, and a magnetic device in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

3. A feeler mechanism for looms having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a bobbin for said shuttle and embodying therein a conducting member for electricity, a casing of insulating material, a pair of electric contact members within said casing, another pair of electric contact members also within said casing and normally out of contact with said first-named contact members and also adapted to contact with the filling upon the bobbin and with the first-named contact members during the beat-up movement of the lay and also with the conducting member of the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, and a magnetic device in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

4. A feeler mechanism for looms, having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a bobbin for said shuttle, a conducting member for electricity upon said bobbin, a casing of insulating material, a pair of electric contact members yieldingly mounted within said casing, another pair of electric contact members also yieldingly mounted within said casing and normally out of contact with said first-named contact members and adapted to contact with the filling upon the bobbin and with the first-named contact members during the beateup movement of the lay and also contact'with the conducting member upon the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, and a magnetic device in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

5. A feeler mechanismfor looms having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a bobbin for said shuttle, a conducting member for electricity upon said bobbin, a casing of insulating material, a pair of electric contact members yieldingly mounted within said casing, another pair of electric contact members also mounted within said casing and adapted to contact with the filling upon the bobbin and with said first-named contact members during the beat-up movement of the lay and also contact with the conducting member upon the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, springs normally holding the first and second-named pair of contact members spaced apart, and a solenoid in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

6. A feeler mechanism for looms having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a bobbin for said shuttle, a sleeve upon said bobbin comprising a conducting member for electricity, a pair of longitudinally movable rods of conducting material for electricity yieldingly mounted within said casing, another pair of rods of conducting material slidably mounted within the casing and normally out of contact with said first-named rods and adapted to contact with the filling on the bobbin and with the first-named rods during the beat-up movement of the lay and also contact with said sleeve when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, and a solenoid in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

7. A teeler mechanism for looms having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle on said lay, a bobbin for said shuttle, a conducting member for electricity upon said bobbin, a casing of insulating material, a pair of electric contact members mounted within said casing, springs surrounding said contact members and holding the same positioned within the casing, another pair of electric contact members also mounted within the casing and also adapted to contact with the filling upon the bobbin and with said first-named contact members during the beat-up movement of the lay and also contact with the conducting member upon the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted therefrom, springs of less compressive strength than said firstnamed springs and normally holding the first and second-named contact members spaced apart, and a magnetic device in circuit with the contact members and adapted to be actuated upon the closing of said electric circuit through the contact members.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

HENRY A. GOWING. SHERWOOD O. DODGE. 

